Director of Communications

UW Credit Union • Madison, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

UW Credit Union is a $6 billion member-owned financial cooperative serving 390,000+ members across Wisconsin. This Director ensures that the mission of improving member financial well-being is heard, felt, and believed by every employee and member. The communications function shapes culture, inspires employee advocacy, and builds change capability across the enterprise, integrating data and AI. The team is values-driven, highly engaged, and collaborates effectively. The role offers opportunities to learn new skills, build strategic communications plans, develop partnerships with leaders, and evolve the function. Communications is positioned at the leadership table, acting as a culture amplifier and shaper. The work environment supports a hybrid model (at least 3 days in office, up to 2 remote), reasonable hours, and a culture that avoids burnout.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field
• 10 years of progressive communications experience with 5+ years in strategic leadership
• Proven track record in corporate communications strategy that measurably improved employee engagement and organizational alignment
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
• Exceptional editorial skills
• Demonstrated experience leading communications through enterprise-wide organizational change
• Strong command of communications measurement and executive-level reporting
• Experience managing production partners and external communications consultants
• Demonstrated fluency in AI-powered communications tools and content governance
• Must possess valid work authorization to work for UWCU on the date of hire. UWCU does not provide immigration sponsorship or support for employment authorization.

Nice To Haves

• Financial services, fintech, or highly regulated industry experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead internal communications that build culture and drive engagement by designing and executing an enterprise internal communications strategy that connects employees to UWCU's mission, direction, and values, bringing the employee value proposition to life and partnering with HR and People leadership on engagement strategies and culture initiatives.
• Own enterprise change communications by co-creating the communications architecture with executive sponsors and other change management experts for organizational transformations (new technology, structure, strategy), understanding readiness, sequencing, and the difference between informing and bringing people along.
• Steward the member relationship through communications by leading external communications that deepen member trust and advocacy, including the annual report, quarterly newsletter, financial results, disruption notifications, product and experience change communications, and member testimonial content.
• Build communications capability across the organization by coaching and advising executives and leaders to foster a more aligned and capable organization.
• Lead reputation management and crisis communications by owning the organization's presence across platforms AI systems use, ensuring corporate narrative consistency in the evolving information landscape, managing relationships with PR firms and external communications consultants, and developing/maintaining crisis communications plans integrated with cross-functional response teams.
• Build a measurement framework that connects communications work to real outcomes like employee engagement, member sentiment, and advocacy, reporting regularly to the CMO and executive team.
• Demonstrate working fluency in AI-powered communications tools, leading the team's adoption of AI solutions for content quality and workflow efficiency, establishing governance guardrails for AI-generated content, and monitoring/managing UWCU's representation in generative AI responses.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Communications team, direct relationships with production partners (videographers, printers), and manage the Communications budget with accountability for resource decisions and return on investment.

Benefits

• Ample amount of time off
• Relocation assistance available
• 2 weeks paid caregiver leave
• 2.5 weeks paid new child parental leave
• 2 days paid volunteer time
• Hybrid work environment
• 10 paid holidays (including your birthday!)
• 401k company match of up to 5%, plus approximately 4% discretionary match
• 457 deferred-compensation plan
• Variable bonus reward
• Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, including domestic partner eligibility
• Employee Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director